Blog Post

Treasures of the Sahara Desert

Stephanie Ackland • Mar 11, 2019

Ancient finds on the road to Timbuktu

Since the 3rd Century until as recent as 1933 Caravan routes existed linking, among other places, Morocco to western Africa, most notably Timbuktu in Mali.

These routes were used to transport cloth, paper and other items from Europe, returning with gold, ivory, ostrich feathers, and slaves, and often picking up silver, salt, dates and other handicrafts on route. These camel caravans would range from 1,000 up to 12,000 camels and required meticulous planning, preparation and the expert knowledge of local tribesmen to navigate the arduous journey across the desert.

The region of Zagora was very important for these routes, a preparation point for the journey and meeting point upon return to distribute the goods across Morocco. The desert town of M’Hamid El Ghizlane, and door to the Sahara, played an important role for these Caravans. A thriving town whose local tribes-people offered expert navigational knowledge of the Sahara, which, together with their camel herds and affinity with the desert and its inhabitants were valuable commodities economically and also for ensuring the safe passage of cargo and people.

The journey at that time took 52 days from Zagora to Timbuktu by camel, and this is still true today. Some of the old routes are still passable and indeed many of the trails and pistes used by four wheel drive vehicles today, are the remnant routes of the old camel caravans. Evidence of these ancient times can still be seen today. On a recent 6 day trek with German tourists, Mustapha, a seasoned desert guide, found several remains of old pottery from the 3rd Century, most notably a large, round vessel, in pristine condition, which would have been used to hold water and was most probably hidden in the ground by nomads to be retrieved on their way back home.

Just one of the many thousands of secrets and stories written into the landscape of the Sahara.

Newer Post >

Mail

Festival Taragalte – Celebrating Life in the Sahara

by Sahara Dreams • 15 Oct, 2022

Every year in Autumn, late October early November, the desert town of M’hamid El Ghizlaine in Morocco, known locally as M’Hamid, becomes a flurry of activity, enthusiasm and excitement as the annual “Festival Taragalte” hits town. The Festival is the brain child of Halim and Ibrahim Sbai, two brothers local to M’Hamid who conceived the festival back in 2009. Created as a celebration of desert life and nomadic traditions, the Festival quickly gained renown for attracting high-level of artists and musicians. International artists, including the Touraeg blues band Tinarawen, have graced the Festival, and several local talented artists including the leading Moroccan band Generation Taragalte, young local musicians Les Jeunes Nomades and Daraa Tribes bringing their own rendition of the mesmerizing desert blues. The Festival takes place over several sites across M’Hamid. Artisanal demonstrations take place in the center of the village, with the lively and animated camel races held in the expansive riverbanks of the town. The main Festival stage and the bulk of the action are on the outskirts where M’Hamid’s palm trees slowly merge into the golden sands of the Sahara. There are plenty of lively workshops where you can learn about desert life and the traditions that are as alive now as in times gone by. Watch local women thread tents from camel hair, and hand make carpets with deft and precision, weaving traditional symbols into vibrant pieces of art. Basketry is also popular, with shoes, decorative items and floor coverings woven from local palm tree leaves. Date palm trees are big in M’Hamid, there are lots of them. In fact, the date palm grove of the South of Morocco is the largest in the world. Planning the Festival for autumn is a masterstroke, as the dates turn crimson, ready to harvest; set against the ancient Kasbahs, it’s a wondrous sight to see. The Festival’s lively programme changes daily. There are plenty of food stalls where locals sell the delicacies they’ve made. Hearty, tasty soups and fresh tagines. Bread made in the sand, yes the sand, it’s a local tradition and tastes delicious hot. All the food in M’Hamid is bio, the meat, the diary, the vegetables, with all the space of the Sahara it makes sense, and you really can taste the difference. Night-time is when the stars come out, literally. M’Hamid’s skies are a site to behold. Travelers visiting the Sahara for the first time are astounded by the night sky, clear, bright and over-filled with stars, the perfect backdrop to the evocative desert music playing on stage till the early hours of the morning, perfect for an evening relaxing in the dunes and dancing under the moon. The Festival also addresses the more serious issues faced by nomads and the local people of M’Hamid, with experts and speakers discussing, amongst other topics. the very real problems of desertification and droughts, and the impact this has on agriculture and life in the region. M’Hamid and the Sahara are a world away from the life most of us know. The Festival Taragalte is a celebration of this life and people of the Sahara. Be part of it and experience 3 days that could be life-changing or at the very least great fun. The 11th Edition of the Festival Taragalte runs across October 28th, 29th and 30th, 2022.